What is a Typical Day Like?

Many times we are asked the question, "What is a typical day like for you?"  The truth is, there is no typical day.  Each one seems to come with surprises and changes in schedules - that is typical!  I decided to carry my camera around for a day not too long ago.  Hopefully this gives you an idea of what our lives are like...sometimes!

This particular morning...

Godwin lives on our compound.  He helps with security and is watering the plants this morning.
It is dry season and it is amazing how much green we still see even though there has been no rain since October!

This is our gate -and the view behind it.
Our neighbour has lovely trees and vines that are blooming now.

Breakfast time!  I am having fresh squeezed orange juice and reading up on news.

Jonathan is enjoying a toast with smoked chicken as well as coffee.
We have a hard time finding good coffee here as most people drink Nescafe instant.

Jonathan is driving today.  We usually meet our newspaper man at this intersection.
But he does not seem to be around today!

We are thankful that we live close to the office.
And that we don't have to sit in that traffic on the other side of the intersection!

Everyone is "out and about" this morning.  These plazas and banks are close to our office.

We are now in the office neighbourhood...complete with a few goats to greet us on the way.

Welcome to the Daniel Center!

Kasimu is one of our gatemen.  He usually greets us in Hausa - to keep us on our toes! 

Kaka greets us as we enter the center.  He is our admin assistant.
Today it looks like he is working on the monthly calendar of events here.

Prayer Time.  Every day whoever is in the office comes together.
We have a list we go through in which we pray for different staff every day of the week.

Today is thank you card writing day.  We are sending notes to our supporters!

It is a two - person job!

  This afternoon...

A school owner comes in for a brief meeting - picking up documents and talking about her school.

Funmi and I are planning a major programme.  Today we are working on finding facilitators.

Electrician is here!  He is adding a socket to our office...and must run wires behind my desk.

This evening....

Catching up on news and enjoying a little rest.

A chat with a friend.

Because of the time difference, this skype meeting took place in the evening.

                                                                      

January and February in Lagos

  While Jonathan recovered from malaria in January, I had committed to being in Lagos for 8 days.  It was a long stretch to be apart while he was not feeling well!  God kept us both in His hands during that time - here are some pictures of training I led and participated in while in Lagos.  Much of this trip was dealing with an area I am increasingly passionate about: bridging the gap between teacher training institutions and what schools are looking for in terms of a quality teacher.

Biblical Integration with Dansol High School Teachers-in-Training.  

We explored how our perspective influences the way we teach.

Graduate Teacher Training Program - Meadow Hall Lagos

I have been able to teach for the last 3 years as part of this program (see previous blogs GTTP).

It was an enthusiastic group of teachers learning about classroom management, lesson delivery, etc..

Kingdom Institute Training with ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International)

A select group from schools in Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt were invited by ACSI to learn about a program called Kingdom Institute.  ACSI Nigeria is exploring the possibility of developing such a program for Christian Schools in Nigeria.

Educational Care in Jos

My colleague Mark has been working with this group of teachers, taking them through "Educational Care" - modules developed to help teachers think about their practice.  Jonathan and I were able to participate with Module 2 & 3 in January - "How Do Students Learn?" and "Recognizing Student Gifts and Abilities".  It was an intense week with a great bunch of teachers!

Small group discussions

Lesson Planning

Class picture

Each participant had to come up with a SMART plan for how they would implement what they have learned.

Jonathan presenting.

Sharing what was learned in small group discussions

Can we communicate our ideas through drawing too??

Developing Action Plans

Praying over our Action Plans

The Adventures of Flat Stanley. A Trip to the "Village".

We received an envelope in the mail this month - with a letter from Leah.  Leah and her class have been learning about Flat Stanley.  And Flat Stanley was also in the envelope!  We dressed her up and have been taking her on some adventures.  We live in a rather large city, but this particular week we happened to be going into the interior to visit some missionary colleagues and encourage some schools affiliated with our mission as well.  This is not our daily life, rather an adventure we got to experience with Flat Stanley :) See some pictures below.

Look who arrived in Nigeria!

Flat Stanley found a yam!  She is going to help make a delicious meal.

After cooking, Flat Stanley sat down to eat fried yam and egg sauce. Yum!

Flat Stanley is preparing for the long journey - some Coca-Cola to keep her awake!

All buckled in and ready to go!

On the road.  We are leaving Abuja!  This is Zuba rock on the way out of town.

Flat Stanley spend alot of time looking out the window.  This was a bridge crossing and some fields.

Flat Stanley saw many people. One of the sights she caught were children with their jerry cans of water.

Lots of road ahead.  This one looks pretty good!

She saw this motorbike (okada) whizzing by...or did we whiz by it??

Flat Stanley was amazed at how much this man could fit into the boot (trunk) of his car!

Hmmm...not too sure...is this a road??  It was two hours of bumping up and down.

Flat Stanley enjoyed many beautiful nature landmarks.  She stopped at this hill for a break.

Taking a selfie with us at the rest stop!

We have arrived!  What a beautiful spot...

Singing for devotions with our Hausa song book.

Off to the market.  Can you find Flat Stanley in the picture?

Posing with a woman selling okra.

This gentleman was showing Flat Stanley how to sharpen a cutlass.  This is used for cutting down long grasses and such.

Flat Stanley likes reading.  Her and Jonathan make good friends!

Nothing like a fresh banana treat.  Flat Stanley noticed bananas are much greener her in Nigeria, and much tastier too!

Hiking

Taking a ride with some pupils who were going home from school.

Flat Stanley joined Joy in her class for a little reading and writing.